Multi-rotor aerial drone with thermal energy harvesting

Abstract

Some features pertain to a quad-rotor or other aerial drone having a thermoelectric generator (TEG) for harvesting waste heat from a processor of the drone. The TEG is positioned, in some examples, with its inner metal electrode coating adjacent the drone processor to function as the “hot” side of the TEG. The outer metal electrode coating of the TEG forms a portion of the outer surface of the housing of the drone to function as the “cold” side of the TEG. The inner and outer metal coatings of the TEG are coupled to a battery recharger so current generated by the TEG during operation of the drone can help recharge the drone battery to extend flight time. In some examples, an outer perimeter of the TEG extends into an airflow region near the drone rotors so propeller wash serves to cool the perimeter of the TEG.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aerial drone, comprising:
 a processor configured to control the aerial drone;   a power supply configured to power the processor; and   an energy harvesting device configured to convert heat generated by the processor into electricity for return to the power supply.   
     
     
         2 . The aerial drone of  claim 1 , wherein the energy harvesting device is a solid state thermoelectric generator (TEG). 
     
     
         3 . The aerial drone of  claim 2 , further including a heat-spreading component coupled to the TEG. 
     
     
         4 . The aerial drone of  claim 2 , wherein a portion of the TEG is coupled to the processor. 
     
     
         5 . The aerial drone of  claim 2 , wherein the aerial drone comprises a housing that contains the processor and wherein at least a portion of the TEG is coupled to the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The aerial drone of  claim 5 , wherein the TEG forms at least a portion of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The aerial drone of  claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of the TEG is configured to protect internal components installed within the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The aerial drone of  claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of the TEG is positioned in an airflow region outside of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The aerial drone of  claim 5 , wherein the aerial drone includes one or more rotors and wherein at least a portion of the TEG is positioned in an airflow region that receives airflow from the one or more rotors. 
     
     
         10 . The aerial drone of  claim 2 , wherein the TEG comprises an asymmetric TEG formed of either only an N-type element or only a P-type element. 
     
     
         11 . The aerial drone of  claim 2 , wherein the TEG comprises a symmetric TEG formed of alternating N-type elements and P-type elements. 
     
     
         12 . The aerial drone of  claim 1 , further comprising an on-board electronic system including a video device, a camera device, a navigation device and/or a wireless communication device, and wherein the processor is configured to control the electronic system. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for use with an aerial drone, comprising:
 means for controlling the aerial drone;   means for providing power to the means for controlling; and   means for converting heat generated by the means for controlling into electricity for return to the means for providing power.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the means for converting heat includes means for converting heat into electricity using solid state components. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further including means for spreading heat coupled to the means for converting heat. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein a portion of the means for converting heat is coupled to the means for controlling. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the aerial drone includes a housing that contains the means for controlling and wherein at least a portion of the means for converting heat is coupled to the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the means for converting heat forms at least a portion of the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the means for controlling is configured to protect internal components installed within the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the means for controlling is positioned in an airflow region outside the housing. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the aerial drone includes one or more rotors and wherein at least a portion of the means for converting heat is positioned in an airflow region that receives airflow from the one or more rotors. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the means for converting heat comprises an asymmetric thermoelectric generator (TEG) formed of either only an N-type element or only a P-type element. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the means for converting heat comprises a symmetric thermoelectric generator (TEG) formed of alternating N-type elements and P-type elements. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising an on-board electronic system including a video device, a camera device, a navigation device and/or a wireless communication device, and wherein the processor controls the electronic system. 
     
     
         25 . A method for energy harvesting within an aerial drone having an energy harvesting device, a processor and a power supply, comprising:
 operating the processor of the aerial drone using electricity provided by the power supply;   converting heat generated by the processor of the aerial drone into electricity using the energy harvesting device; and   returning the electricity obtained by the energy harvesting device to the power supply.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein converting heat generated by the processor of the aerial drone into electricity is performed using a solid state thermoelectric generator (TEG). 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein converting heat generated by the processor of the aerial drone into electricity using the TEG includes:
 applying heat from the processor to a first side of the TEG, the TEG also having a second side that is cooler than the first side;   coupling the first and second sides of the TEG to a circuit to obtain an electrical current; and   applying the electrical current to a recharger to obtain the electricity for returning to the power supply.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , further including operating the aerial drone while using one or more rotors to provide lift and while using the TEG in an airflow region of the aerial drone that receives airflow from the one or more rotors. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein converting heat generated by the processor of the aerial drone into electricity is performed using an asymmetric TEG formed of either only an N-type element or only a P-type element. 
     
     
         30 . A device for use with an aerial drone, comprising:
 first and second electrodes;   a thermoelectric material composed of either only an N-type thermoelectric element or only a P-type thermoelectric element, with the thermoelectric material positioned between the first and second metal electrodes and with the thermoelectric material configured to generate a voltage in response to a temperature difference between the first and second metal electrodes;   a power supply; and   a circuit interconnecting the power supply and the first and second electrodes with the circuit configured to apply the voltage to the power supply to charge the power supply.